As the deep economic recession continues in this country and the effects are far ranging, including on rural employment, the House of Representatives' Agriculture Subcommittee on Rural Development heard from rural researchers, community developers and educators on strategies and lessons for developing innovative approaches to rural development. The need for policies that support entrepreneurial opportunities in rural communities has increased importance in light of the global recession. A recent analysis of employment trends from RUPRI's Center for Regional Competitiveness shows that the rural economy is now losing jobs at a faster rate than the rest of the nation, particularly over the past two months.
Chairman Mike McIntyre (D-NC) acknowledged this report as he stated, "Rural communities face challenging obstacles in securing jobs and economic development opportunities. Today's hearing provided us with some powerful examples of innovative approaches that can help rural communities grow and thrive."
Dr. Deb Markley of the RUPRI Center for Rural Entrepreneurship and William Lambe of the Community and Economic Development Program in the School of Government at the University of North Carolina both offered similar lessons and key "local ingredients" for rural innovation to committee members. These focus on the following:
- Entrepreneurial and proactive leadership is a prerequisite. Entrepreneurial leaders need to recognize opportunities to take a different economic development approach and assume risk, where necessary.
- Regional and organization collaboration provides a more diverse and broader coalition for entrepreneurial development and support networks. Economic development in rural communities no longer has to be a zero-sum game among competing communities.
- Building upon local assets is a key determinant of entrepreneurial approaches that are sustainable. The definition of community assets should be broad enough to not just include economic and natural assets, but also the assets of ideas from individual people, nonprofit organizations, and businesses.
- A comprehensive and systems-focused approach to innovation in rural communities provides multi-faceted, context-specific and a supportive cultural and policy foundation.
Additional panelists included Jeff Yost, President and CEO of the Nebraska Community Foundation in Lincoln, Nebraska; Mr. Robert J. Thompson, Executive Director of the Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments in Auburn, Maine and Vice-Chair, Rural Development Task Force of the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO); and Dr. Randy Smith, the President of the Rural Community College Alliance from Altus, Oklahoma
After hearing statements from the witnesses, Ranking Member Michael Conaway (R-TX) offered that "today's testimony provided us with a better understanding of the issues confronting rural communities, and the innovative approaches that state and local entities are taking to improve our rural economies.
